There’s an old joke – maybe you have heard it. Q: How many church members does it take to change a light bulb? A: Change the light bulb? My grandmother donated that light bulb! We laugh because it can be true – oftentimes we can grow used to things being a certain way for soContinue reading “Changes”
Category Archives: Pastor Notes
Political acts
Things are a mess right now. I can make a list. I imagine you could too. It’s a mess. This is where some of you are afraid I will be talking about politics. There are people who say politics does not belong in church, but that is wrong – partisanship does not belong in church.Continue reading “Political acts”
Jesus edited.
Last Sunday I preached on Luke 4:14-30 – the story of Jesus preaching at Nazareth. In that story, Jesus reads from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, toContinue reading “Jesus edited.”
Because you exist
As I write this, it’s the 4th day of the season of Christmas on the Christian calendar, or the 28th of December, in the way we humans calculate things. Our house is still festooned in lights, with a wreath on the door and Christmas cards from friends displayed on the mantle. Our refrigerator is stillContinue reading “Because you exist”
Something in the air
Last week, Open Door held our first ever Fall Festival. There were games and a bounce house and hot dogs and Pam brought her big 18-wheeler and we had door prizes. We weren’t sure who would come, but there were more than 75 folks there. Our small church was filled with people we had neverContinue reading “Something in the air”
One year in
The first Sunday of October marks one year since Open Door called me to be their pastor, so I thought this would be an excellent time to give you an update on how that’s going – at least from my perspective. Besides, so much in ministry takes time to measure, and can only be accuratelyContinue reading “One year in”
168 hours a week
In a coffee shop the other day, I met with someone who had visited our church. He had some questions, and he said, in passing as we were leaving, that it was easy to be a Christian when you were at church. “It’s the rest of the week that’s hard”. He’s absolutely right. The hourContinue reading “168 hours a week”
Seeking the welfare of the city
Here in the US, we are in full-on political mode, some 90 days before election day. Your social media feeds, your television commercials, your neighbor’s yard signs – all politics, all the time. It can be a stressful season. I get people all the time who tell me they hate politics. But mostly, when peopleContinue reading “Seeking the welfare of the city”
To be, rather than to seem
We affirm that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, economic status, or life situation are welcome, valued, and invited to full participation in the life of the congregation. That statement on the front page of our website was the result of more than a year’s discernment by our congregation. AsContinue reading “To be, rather than to seem”
Pride Month
“I have never heard of a Mennonite church that celebrates Pride month”, she said. I laughed. “Well, as a friend of mine once said, if you have been to one Mennonite church, you have been to one Mennonite church”. I recognize not many Mennonite churches celebrate Pride month. But not many of them celebrate BlackContinue reading “Pride Month”
Open Door Mennonite Church 